Stored pressure fluid medium container closure



Patented Apr. 14, 1953 STORED PRESSURE FLUID MEDIUM CONTAINER CLOSUREScott E. Allen, Verona,

Fire Equipment Company,

N. .L, assignor to C-O-T wo poration of Delaware Application January 31,1950, Serial No. 141,539 8 Claims. (01. 16931) The present inventionrelates to a stored pressure fluid medium container closure such as isused principally for containers to pressurize a fire extinguisher orother device containing an agent to be expelled by pressure means.

The containers are charged with a compressible fluid at a high pressureand are provided with closure means so that the fluid may be released asdesired at a predetermined and controlled rate of discharge. 7

A container fitted with a closure in accordance with the invention isparticularly suitable for use as a pressurizing vessel for a water fireextinguisher. It is important in a container or this type that aleakproof closure seal be provided as the device may not be used forsome time but the stored fluid must always be available for instantaction in the event of a fire. In a liquid or water extinguisher, theliquid almost completely fills the storage vessel-leaving only a smallair space for the pressurization of the liquid to expel it from theextinguisher. By reason of the practical incompressibility andinsolubility in the liquid of the pressurizing fluid, it is desirablethat the pressurizing fluid be discharged at a slow rate commensuratewith the rate of discharge of the fire extinguisher. In this manner asteady pressure is had, resulting in an even flow of the fireextinguishing fluid over the entire period of discharge. l-leretoforestored pressure fiuid medium container closures have been providedwherein a restricting means has been placed in the neck of the containerto limit the discharge therefrom. This means has not been found whollysatisfactory particularly in the charging of the containers in thateither a considerable length of time or an extremely high pressure isrequired to introduce the recharging medium through the small orifice.Another construction has been provided, disclosed in a copendingapplication, owned by the same assignee, entitled Stored Pressure MediumContainer With Discharge Control, Serial No. 137,847, filed January 10,1950, in which there has been provided a removable orifice member injuxtaposition to the seal disc.

The present invention aims to overcome the foregoing difiiculties anddisadvantages by providing a disc-sealed stored pressure fluid mediumcontainer closure having a limited discharge rate wherein valve meansare provided for readily permitting the charging or recharging of theextinguisher at a high rate, yet in which the discharge rate is limitedto a predetermined safe value.

Newark, N. J., a cor- Another object of the invention is to provide acontainer closure having a predetermined discharge rate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stored pressure rluidmedium container closure which is simple and economical in manufacture,efficient in operation and durable in use. 1-

In accordance with the invention, the foregoing objects are accomplishedby providing a high pressure storage container closure having an ap-:ertured check valve arranged to readily pass fluid. into the container,the check valve closing and limiting the discharge through theaperturefor flow outwardly from the container. A disc seal is provided which isadapted to be opened by a puncturing member to release the pressuremedium, and to automatically rupture in the event the pressure in thecontainer exceeds a predetere mined amount.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and from the accompanying drawing which shows byway of example anembodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 illustrates a fragmentary vertical sectional view of a liquidfire extinguisher incorporating astored pressure fluid medium containerwith a closure made in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the upper portion ofthe stored pressure fluid medium container with the closure showing a,

puncturing member in position to rupture the frangible disc.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown, in

Fig. 1 a liquid fire extinguished l0 pressurized.

by a stored pressure fluid medium container ll. Any liquid fireextinguishing agent such as water, carbon tetrachloride, etc., may beused in the extinguisher. The liquid fire extinguisher it is illustratedto show a use for the stored pressure fluid medium container Handincludes a standard shell 12 adapted to be almost completely filledwith liquid such as water or other ,fire extinguishing agent through afilling opening l4 closed by a conventional filling, cap [5. Upon thedischarge of the extinguisher, the fire extinguishing liquid ispressurized by stored pressure medium from the container l I andexpelled through an outletelbow l6 and a discharge hose I611 through asuitable nozzle (not shown).

The filling cap l5 has a hand ring I! spaced from the body of the cap bylegs IS-and is used to facilitate engaging the cap with the container aswell as for use as a carrying handle. On the underside of the fillingcap i5 is a downwardly extending tubular portion l9 having its innersurface threaded to engage the upper threaded end 25 of a closurefitting or nipple 2| for the container Apertures 22 are made in the wallof the tubular portion i9 for the passage of fluid from the container I.

In order to open the stored pressure fluid medium container, puncturingmeans are provided in the cap member including an upwardly turnedextension 23 having a passage 24 therethrough and covered by a dischargecap member '25. Within the passage 2a is slideably positioned anoperating rod 26 secured to the discharge cap member 25 by a pin 21extending through aligned openings in both parts. A spring 29 ispositioned between the cap member and a shoulder 35 about the passage 24in the extension 23 to normally urge the rod 26 outwardly from the capmember l5. At the lower end of the extension 23 the passage 24 isenlarged to receive an enlarged portion 3| of the rod 26 having anannular groove 32 thereabout adapted to receive an O- ring 3a to providea leakprooi seal between the enlarged portion .3| and the Wall of thepassage 24. The lower end of the enlarged portion 3| is reduced in sizeto provide a puncturing member 35 made with a pointed end 35 tofacilitate the opening of the stored pressure fluid medium containerThestored pressure fluid medium container or pressure vessel isformedwith a body or container portion 40 made of any suitable material suchas steel to store a fluid medium under high pressure. The upper end ofthe container l is made with a threaded discharge opening 4| in which issecured the closure fitting 2| forming the neck of the container andhaving a fluid passage 22 extending therethrough. In alternativeconstructions, the closure fitting 2| may be formed integrally with thebody of the container As may be seen more easily inFig..2, the outer endof the fluid passage 42 is enlarged as indicated at 44 and formed withanupwardly extending sealing seat 45. The outer surface of the upper-endof the closure fitting 2| is threaded as indicated at '45 to engage withthe downwardly depending extension IQ of the cap member vl5. Thecorresponding inner surface of the closure member 2| is also threaded toreceive .a ring nut 41 having longitudinally extending filling grooves43 and having an enlarged inner lower end to receive a washer 49. Arupturablesealing disc 55 adapted to rupture at a safe predeterminedbursting pressure lower than the bursting pressure of the wallof thecontainer H is positioned against the washer 49 to close the passage 42.In order to prevent leakage of fluid from thecontainer between thesealing seat 45 and the sealingdisc Elba thin deformable ring gasket 5|is interposed therebetween. The lower end of the passage 42 is enlargedto provide avalve chamber-52. A shoulder formed at the meeting point ofthe wall of the passage 42 and theupper wall of the valve chamber 52 isbevelled to provide a valve seat 53. A valve member 54 is freelypositioned in the valve chamber 52 andloosely secured in position by anipple 55 having a passage 56 extending therethrough. The lower end ofthe nipple 55 is fitted with a screen 5'! having its edge held by awasher 59 and secured in position by lower inwardly turned edge 60 .ofthe nipple. Thenipple 55 is threadedly engaged with the lower end of thevalve chamber 52 as indicated at 6|.

The valve member 54 preferably has a cylindrically shaped skirt portion62 having a slotted end 53 and made with longitudinally extendingfilling grooves 64 for the passage of fluid between the cylindricalskirt ;portion 62 and the wall of the valve chamber 52. In analternative construction, the skirt portion might be made with outwardlyextending ribs instead of grooved to make the filling fluid passage. Theupper end of the valve member 54 is closed as indicated at 65 and madewith an orifice 66 of a size to limit the outward fluid flow through thevalve member 54 to a predetermined safe value. To facilitate insertingthe closure member 2| in position in the container II, the outer surfaceof the closure member 2| is formed with an enlarged center portion 61which may be provided with faces for engagement with a wrench or othertool.

The extinguisher I0 is actuated by inverting it and striking itsdischarge cap 25 against a surface to move the puncturing member 35inwardly against the sealing disc 50 to release the stored pressurefluid medium to expel the fire extinguishing liquid. By reason of thelimiting size of the orifice 66, the pressurizing fiuid is discharged ata comparatively slow rate commensurate with the discharge rate of theliquid from the fire extinguisher. Accordingly, a constant pressure ismaintained on the fluid providing an even discharge.

In recharging the container II, the ring nut fi'l is unloosened and theclosure member 2| secured to a suitable filling machine, thepressurizing fluid passing through the filling grooves 48 across thesealing seat 45 into the passage 42 to unseat the valve member 54. Thefluid then flows through the filling grooves 64 in the skirt portion ofthe valve member and through the slots 63 to fill the container Afterthe charging operation is completed, and during a discharge of thecontainer H, the pressure in'the container urges the check valve 54 ontoits seat and leakage through the orifice 66 is prevented by tighteningthe ring nut 41 to keep the seal between the sealing disc 50 and thegasket member 5|.

In the event the charged container H is subjected to an excessivetemperature which increases the pressure of the storedfluid to an unsafeamount, the sealing disc is adapted to burst at a pressure lower thanthe bursting pressure of the container wall. The recoil of the containerII is limited by reason of the restriction of the orifice 66 and thereis practically no possibility of damage to property or injury to.

persons by reason of the bursting of the sealing disc 50.

It is thus apparent that the present invention provides a storedpressure fluid mediumcontainer closure which may be readily rechargedyet which has a limited discharge rate in the event the container isopened by a puncturing member or in the event it has been subjected to ahigh temperature causing an increase in its internal pressure to theextent that the sealing .disc 50 has been ruptured.

While the invention has been described and illustrated with reference toa specific embodi-' ment thereof, it will be understood "that other.

embodiments may be resortedIto'withoutadeparting from .the invention.'For :example, while *the check member has been described of generallytubular: shape, it is obvious that other shapes of check member may beused such as a flat disc in which event it may be preferable to use aspring to normally urge the. valve member against its seat. Furthermore,while the aperture has been shown as positioned in the center of thecheck member, it is obvious that it might be positioned any place Withinthe area encompassed by the valve seat 52 providing a fluid flow.Therefore, the form of the invention set out above should be consideredas illustrative and not as limiting the scope of the following claims.

. I claim:

1. A closure for a stored pressure fluid medium container having anoutlet, the closure having a passage therethrough, means to hold theclosure in the outlet of the container, safety means closing the passagein the closure and adapted to be opened by a predetermined containerpressure below the bursting pressure of the container, valve seat meanspositioned about the passage and defining inlet and outlet portionsthereof and facing the inlet, an apertured valve member positioned toengage the valve seat during fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet asupon thedischarge of the container, the valve member adapted to be heldaway from the valve seat by fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet asupon the charging ofthe container, and means to retain the valve memberin operative position to engage the valve seat, whereby upon the openingof the safety means the outward flow of fluid pressure medium is limitedto a predetermined rate depending upon the size of the aperture in thevalve member.

2. A closure for a stored pressure fluid medium container having anoutlet, the closure having a passage therethrougnmeans to hold theclosure in the outlet of the container, a rupturable disc closing thepassage in the closure and adapted to be ruptured by a predeterminedcontainer pressure below the bursting pressure of the container, valveseat means-positioned about the passage and defining inlet and outletportions thereof and facing the inlet, an apertured valve memberpositioned in the inlet portion of the passage, the valve member adaptedto be engaged with the valve seat during fluid flow from the inlet tothe outlet as upon the discharge of the container, the valve memberadapted to be held away from the valve seat by fluid flow from theoutlet to the inlet as upon the charging of the container, and means toretain the valve member in operative position to engage the valve seat,whereby upon the rupturing of the disc, the outward flow of fluidpressure medium is limited to a predetermined rate depending upon thesize of the aperture in the valve member.

3. A closure for a stored pressure fluid medium container having anoutlet, the closure having a passage therethrough, means to hold the010- sure in the outlet of the container, a rupturable disc closing thepassage in the closure and adapted to be ruptured by a predeterminedcontainer pressure below the bursting pressure of the container, areduced section of the passage wall forming valve seat means anddefining inlet and outlet portions thereof and facing the inlet, anapertured skirted valve member positioned in the inlet portion of thepassage, the valve member adapted to be engaged with the valve seatduring fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet as upon the discharge ofthe container, the valve member adapted to be held away from the valveseat by fluid flow from the outlet to the inlet as upon the charging ofthe container, the skirt adapted to'slide in the inlet passage to guidethe valve member, and means to'retain the valve member in the inletportion of the passage, whereby upon the rupturing of the disc, theoutward flow of fluid pressure medium is limited to a predetermined ratedepending upon the size of the aperture in the valve member.

4. A closure for a stored pressure fluid medium containerhaving anoutlet, the closure having a passage therethrough, means to hold theclosure in the outlet of the container, a rupturable disc closing thepassage in the closure and adapted to be ruptured by a predeterminedcontainer pressure belowthe bursting pressure of the container, areduced section of'the passage Wall forming valve seat means anddefining inlet and outlet portions thereof and facing the inlet, anapertured skirted valve member of cylindrical shape and having a closedupper end with the aperture therein, the cylindrical wall having alongitudinally extending fluid passage therein, the upper corner of thevalve. member beveled to form a surface to engage the valve seat, thevalve member positioned in the'inlet portion of the passagathe valvemember adapted to be engaged with the valve seat during fluid flow fromthe inlet to the outlet as upon the discharge of the container, thevalve member adapted to be held away from the valve seat by fluid flowfrom the outlet to the inlet as upon the charging of the container, theskirt adapted to slide in the inlet passage to guide the valve member,and means to retain the valve member in the inlet portion of thepassage, whereby upon the rupturing of the disc, the outward flow offluid pressure medium is limited to a predetermined rate depending uponthe size of the aperture in thevalve member.

5, A closure for a stored pressure fluid medium container having anoutlet, the closure having a passage therethrough, means to hold theclosure in the outlet of the container, a shoulder about the closurepassage forming a disc seat, a rupturable disc engaging the disc seat, aring nut tnreadedly engaged with the wall of the closure passage tosecure the disc against its seat, the disc closing the passage andadapted to be opened by a predetermined container pressure below thebursting pressure of the container, valve seat means positioned aboutthe passage and defining inlet and outlet portions thereof and facingthe inlet, an apertured valve member positioned in the inlet portion ofthe passage, the valve member adapted to be engaged with the valve seatby fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet as during the discharge ofthe container, the valve member to be held away from the valve seat byfluid flowing from the outlet to the inlet as during the charging of thecontainer, and means to retain the valve member in the inlet portion ofthe passage, whereby upon the opening of the safety means the outwardflow of fluid pressure medium is limited to a predetermined ratedepending upon the size of the aperture in the valve.

member.

6. A closure member for a stored pressure fluid medium container havingan outlet, the closure having a passage therethrough, means to hold theclosure in the outlet of the container, a shoulder about the closurepassage forming a disc seat, a rupturable disc engaging the disc seat, aring nut threadedly engaged with the Wall of the closure passage tosecure the disc against its seat, the disc closing the passage andadapted to be opened by a predetermined container pressure below thebursting pressure of the con- 'tain'er, valve seat means positioned:about the passage and defining inlet and outlet portions thereof andfacing the :inlet, an .apertured valve member positioned the inlet"portion :of the passage, the valve member adapted to be engaged withthe valve seat by .fluid flowing :from the inlet to the outlet 'asduring the :discharge .of :the container, :the .valve member to be heldaway :from the valve *seat by fluid flowing from the outlet :to the.inlet as during the charging of :the container, and .means :to retainthe valve memberin the inlet'portion ofxthe passage, the valve member'of cylindrical shape :having a closed upper end :with the aperturetherein, the cylindrical wallshaving ,a;-fl'uid passage therein, thediameter of the valve member slightly less than the diameter :of theinlet 50 that the valve member'is guided by the wallofthe inlet.

'7. ,Aclosure for-aqstored pressureifluidzmedium container having anoutlet, the closure having ajpassage'therethrough, means to hold.the'closure in the closure'of the container, a shoulder about the:outlet passage forming a disc seat, a rupturable disc engaging the discseat, a ring nut threadedly engaged with the wall .of the closurepassage to secure the disc against its seat, the disc closing thepassage and adapted tobe opened b'ya predetermined container pressurebelow the burstingpressureiof the container, valve seat means positionedabout the passage anddefining inletand outlet portions thereof andfacing the inlet, an apertured valve member positioned .in the inletportion of :the passage, the valve member adapted to be engaged with thevalve seat by fluid flowing from the inlet to "the outlet as vduring thedischarge of the container, the valvezmemberto be held away from thevalve seat .by fluid flowing from the outlet to the inlet as during thecharging of the container, and means to retain the valve member in theinlet portion rOf the passage, the :valve member of cylindrical shape'having :a closed upper end with the aperture therein, the cylinby apredetermined container pressure below the bursting pressure :of thecontainer, valve seat means positioned about the passage and defininginlet and outlet portions thereof and facing the inlet, a valve memberpositioned :to :engave the valve seat during fluid "flow from the inletto the outlet as'up'on the discharge-of the container, the valve memberadapted to be held away from the valve seat by fluid flow'from theoutlet to the inlet as upon the charging of the container, meanstoretain the valve member in operative position to engage the valveseat, :and fluid passage means by-passing the valve member andterminating inwardly of the safety means, whereby upon the opening .ofthe safety means the outward flow of'fluid pressure medium is limited toa predetermined rate depending upon the size of the by-pass fluidpassage.

SCOTT E.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,015,987 Bijur eta'l. Jan. 30,1912 2,077,872 Boyd g Apr. '20,1937

